Recessed lighting fixture and jack supports therefor



y 3, 1956 A. E. ZINGONE 2,744,716

RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND JACK SUPPORTS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. wr /@05 6. Z/A/ aa/vE Jrraquey,

May 8, 1956 A. E. ZINGONE RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND JACK SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 7, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 R E E V M M M 4 ml. NM, v m\hu\ feww irraemsw May 8, 1956 A. E. ZINGONE RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND JACK SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 7, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. rf/wwaw 5. 26960105 2,744,716 Patented May 8, 1956 RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND JACK SUPPORTS THEREFOR Anthony E. Zingone, New York, N. Y., assignor to Neo- Ray Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 7, 1955, Serial No. 480,545 Claims. (Cl. 248-318) supported and adjusted to accommodate any varying spacing of the framework from the ceiling.

Lighting fixtures of the recessed type, particularly for fluorescent lighting are relatively long and heavy so as to require firm support therefor. As the framework in buildings varies in construction and spacing from the The fixture is supported in the ceiling opening 11 by means of jacks 25 which at their lower ends rest upon suitable framework and at their upper ends slidably engage through openings 26 in the side walls 14 and 15 of the housing. The framework on which the jacks are supported may be a plaster frame 27 which borders the ceiling opening 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or the same may be a T-bar frame 28 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and in some instances, the jacks faces of the ceilings it has been found diflicult to'properly I support the fixtures so as to dispose the faces of the fixtures in correct relation with reference to the ceiling. In order to overcome this difliculty the present invention provides jacks by which the fixtures may be adjustably supported upon different types of framework and which are variously spaced from the ceilings.

Another object of the invention is to provide jacks slidably engaging through apertures in the side walls of the housing of the fixture with the inner ends of the jacks engaged by screws for adjustably supporting the housing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture having adjustable jack supports constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the outer face of the lighting fixture.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the supporting jacks.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the outer face of the fixture shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views of one side of the housing of the lighting fixture showing modified forms of supporting jacks.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the lighting fixture is of the recessed type which is adapted to be arranged in an opening 11 in a ceiling indicated by the reference character 12. The fixture includes a housing 13 of general rectangular formation having opposite side walls 14 and 15, end walls 16 and a top Wall 17. Located within the housing is a support 19 for a plurality of fluorescent tubes 20 which extend substantially the full length of the housing. A light transmitting panel, such as a glass panel 21' as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, or a louvered panel 22 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 thereof, is removably supported on the inwardly directed frame 23 afiixed to the bottom edges of the side and end Walls.

may rest upon wooden beams as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive of the drawings. As such framework may vary in spacing from the face of the ceiling 12, the jacks 25 adjustably support the fixture so that the fixture may be correctly positioned with reference to the face of the ceiling.

The jacks 25 are arranged two on each side of the housing and each is formed of a length of flat strip material which is bent to provide an inwardly directed upper end located within the housing and connected with a downwardly extending straight portion 31 which is slidable in the opening 26. The lower ends of the jacks are each provided with an outwardly extending flange or foot 32 which is adapted to seat upon supporting framework such as the plaster frame 27 or the T-bar frame 28. The flange 32 is connected with a straight portion 33 and between the straight portions'31 and 33 is an outwardly flaring portion 34. The inwardly directed upper end 39 is threadedly engaged by a screw 35 having a reduced upper end 36 mounted for swivel turning movement in an opening in the top wall 17 of the housing. The screw is formed with a kerfed head 37 at its lower end adapted to be engaged by a tool for turning the same so as to raise or lower the fixture.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the jacks 38 are adapted to seat upon framework such as the wooden beam 39 located above the face of the ceiling 12, and in this form, the jacks are similarly bent from a length of flat strip material to provide a straight portion 45} connected with an out wardly extending foot portion 41 at its lower end and an inwardly directed portion 42 at its upper end. The straight portion 40 is slidable in the opening 26 in the side wall of the housing 13, as in the previous form of the invention and the foot portion 41 is adapted to rest upon the beam 39. The inwardly directed upper end 42 threadedly receives a screw 43 similar to the screw 35 in the previous form of the invention and which is mounted for swivel turning movement in an opening 44 in the top wall 17 of the housing for raising or lowering the fixture to accommodate the spacing of the beam 39 from the ceiling and to dispose the fixture in correct relation with the face of the ceiling.

The jacks may also accommodate wider spacing of the supporting framework as well as framework spaced a considerable distance above the ceiling as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 respectively. The jacks 45 shown in Fig. 7 are similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4 with the exception that the feet are elongated as at 46 so as to accommodate the wide spacing of the supporting framework 47 from the sides of the housing. As in the previous forms the jacks 45 are adjustable vertically by the turning of the screw 48 in order to accommodate varying spacings of the supporting framework 47 from the face of the ceiling. Instead of the jacks 45 having elongated feet 46 as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, jacks 50 may be provided as shown in Fig. 8 in which the supporting structure such as the beams 51 arranged on each side of the housing may be disposed at considerable distance above the face of the ceiling indicated by the reference character 52. This form of jack is provided with an upwardly extending portion 53 having a foot 54 extending laterally from the upper end thereof and which has the vertical movement to and from the full line position to the broken position 3 shown therein for engagement with varying spacings of the beams 51.

In all the forms, the openings 25 in the side walls 14 and 15 of the housing are produced by slitting the side walls longitudinally and pressing the side walls above the slits outwardly as at 55 whereby the openings 26 open downwardly and the jacks have bearing engagement against the side walls 14 and 15 below the openings and against the inside faces of the outpressed portions 55 above the openings.

While the preferred forms of the invention are shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which fall within the purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighting fixture, a housing having a top wall, opposite sidewalls and an open bottom, a plurality of jacks arranged on opposite sides of the housing and each having a laterally extending lower end adapted to seat upon building framework for supporting the fixture, said jacks having upwardly extending straight portions provided with inwardly offset upper ends respectively, said straight portions being slidably arranged in openings in the side Walls of the housing, and screws threadedly engaging said otfset upper ends respectively and swivelly engaging the housing for raising and lowering the jacks to accommodate varying elevations of the framework.

2. In a lighting fixture, a housing having a top wall, opposite side walls and an open bottom, a plurality of jacks arranged on opposite sides of the housing and each having a laterally extending lower end adapted to seat upon building framework for supporting the fixture, said jacks having upwardly extending straight portions provided with inwardly offset upper ends respectively, said straight portions being slidably arranged in vertically disposed openings in the side walls of the housing, and screws threadedly engaging said offset upper ends respectively and swivelly engaging in openings in the top wall of the housing for raising and lowering the jacks to accommodate varying elevations of the framework.

3. In a lighting fixture, a housing having a top wall,

opposite side walls and an open bottom, a plurality of jacks arranged on opposite sides of the housing and each having a laterally extending lower end adapted to seat upon building framework for supporting the fixture, said jacks having upwardly extending straight portions provided with inwardly offset upper ends respectively, said side walls being cut and bent to provide downwardly arranged openings with the side walls above said openings being bent outwardly, said straight portions of the jacks being slidably arranged in said openings and engaging against the side walls below said openings and against the outwardly bent portions thereof above said openings respectively, and screws threadedly engaging through openings in said offset upper ends respectively and swivelly engaging in openings in the top wall of the housing for raising and lowering the jacks to accommodate varying elevations of the framework.

4. In a lighting fixture, a housing having a top wall, opposite side walls and an open bottom, a plurality of jacks arranged on opposite sidesof the housing and each having an ofliset lower end adapted to seat upon building framework for supporting the fixture, said jacks having upwardly extending straight portions provided with offset upper ends respectively, said straight portions being slidably arranged in openings in the side walls of the housing, and screws threadedly engaging said offset upper ends respectively and swivelly engaging the housing for raising and lowering the jacks to accommodate varying elevations of the framework.

5. In a lighting fixture, a housing including a top Wall and opposite side walls, a plurality of jacks arranged on opposite sides of the housing and each having a lower end adapted to seat upon building framework for supporting the fixture, said jacks having upwardly extending portions and offset upper ends respectively, said side walls having openings in which the upwardly extending portions are slideable, and screws threadedly engaging said offset upper ends respectively and engaging the housing for raising and lowering the jacks to accommodate varying elevations of the framework.

No references cited. 

